Amazon's Appstore for Android include apps that allow in-app purchases. In-app purchases may include items like premium content, subscriptions and game unlock codes.

To prevent a scenario in which your 3-year-old daughter accidentally makes an in-app purchase of an unlock code while playing Cut The Rope (true story), here's how to set the Amazon Appstore's parental controls :

Enable parental controls

Step 1: From within the Amazon Appstore, touch the menu key and select Settings.

Screenshot by Ed Rhee

Step 2: Select Parental Controls.

Screenshot by Ed Rhee

Step 3: Check the first box to enable parental controls and enter your Amazon.com password. This will force you to enter your Amazon.com password or a PIN to make in-app purchases. Check the second box if you prefer to use a 4-digit PIN rather than your Amazon.com password.

Screenshot by Ed Rhee

Disable in-app purchasing

That's it. Amazon Appstore purchases aren't refundable, so set those parental controls and don't end up with a surprise bill, like that dad, whose 3-year-old magically unlocked all the boxes in Cut The Rope. And by magically, we mean a $0.99 in-app unlock code.

About the author

Ed Rhee, a freelance writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area, is an IT veteran turned stay-at-home-dad of two girls. He focuses on Android devices and applications while maintaining a review blog at techdadreview.com.
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